July 6, 2016

Do you have a website that is up and running? If so, then you may have heard that Google continually adjusts its search algorithms for websites that are doing well, especially when it comes to social media marketing.

The bottom line is, for your website to be visible to Internet users, you must optimize its performance by speeding up the website and adhering to some specific SEO ranking factors. To optimize your site’s performance and loading speed, read on — below are seven ways to speed up your website and increase conversions.

1. First and foremost, optimize images and site design elements

If you are a frequent browser, then you know for a fact that images account for the biggest part of downloadable content from any site. Therefore, optimizing images will boost your website’s performance.

As easy as this may sound, many website owners have a hard time optimizing their images. To take the weight off your shoulders, here are some useful tools that you can use when optimizing your images and fonts.

Optimizila – This is the most powerful image optimizer. With Optimizila, you can easily compress your image into JPEG and/or PNG format depending on your preferences. The good news is, with this tool, you can make your Web fonts the size you need.

Last but not least, you can use Google’s image optimization guide. Google has a well detailed and comprehensive guide that will educate you on image optimization techniques like replacing eliminated images, optimizing vector images and so much more.

2. Minimize the number of HTTP requests

Cutting down on your HTTP requests will increase your website loading speeds by reducing the delays that arise when the server is downloading resources. In the same way, you can minimize your HTTP requests by combining your JavaScript files into one big file. By so doing, the chances of sending a smaller HTTP request are much higher.

In addition to this, you can also choose to either sprite images or use data URL. Using image sprites and just one image across a number of elements would automatically increase your website loading speeds. Similarly, by using data URL, encoded image data will be included in HTML and CSS, which automatically removes the need for a HTTP request.

The truth of the matter is that CSS and HTML are lightweight, a feature that makes them possible to increase website loading speeds especially for mobile webpages.

3. Have a good web hosting provider

For your site to load quickly, you must have a good hosting provider. In addition to this, the hosting provider should have a secure and callable infrastructure. For you to have a quick responsive site that is likely to get a top rank from Google, you must localize your hosting.

Most Web owners are tempted to share Web hosting with others to save some money. Little do they know cheap hosting leads to poor website response and a bad level of service. Unless you are running a small website that doesn’t demand traffic, then you must have a reliable hosting provider.

4. Get AJAX to Speed Up your Website

When you apply AJAX, you will be able to fetch data easily even on mobile. The most exciting part is the fact that you will get the data you require without the need for refreshing the webpage. AJAX also allows your mobile webpages to load faster as well as quickly fill in updated content while still browsing other mobile webpages.

5. Optimize any visible content

Visible content is the portion of webpage that your guests see on their screens before scrolling for more. Therefore, to ensure your website speed is excellent, you have to prioritize or rather optimize visible content. Additionally, ensure that you move all scripts toward the end so that a readable and catchy portion of your website is the first thing your guests look at.

6. Optimize your plugins

Plugins allow you to enlarge the functionality of your website. Those same plugins can also help you expand the site’s complexity, especially with your website load time frame. However, the number of plugins on your website do not link to a slower website speed. Regardless of how true this is, it is important for you to evaluate and choose plugins that are reliable and scalable.

You can increase your site’s speed and conversions with a low-quality plugin for as long as that particular plugin loads many assets, executes complex operations and gives additional database queries. However, ensure that you use plugins that are managed by reputable plugin providers.

7. Improve caching

Browser caching means the browser will be drilled to keep some files in a local cache. When the files are in the local cache, your website will be gaining excellent loading speeds. In fact, every time a browser loads a webpage, it must download all the related webpages first for the files to be properly displayed.

With that said, browsing caching is a sure way of improving a website’s speed by delivering cached copies of content that has been requested by your site guests. The Web cache then allows you to store the content for easy access upon user requests. For more insights, please have a look at this guide from Google.

Rahul Bhardwaj is a project manager with online marketing agency Trignosoft Solutions. He especially enjoys learning and sharing thoughts about search engine, social media, and website development. His job is to create value for clients in their particular niches that eventually bring them links and business through digital mediums. In his spare time, he’s an avid traveler, aspiring photographer and amateur cricketer.